A judge presiding in a civil matter shall give prompt consideration to resolving scheduling conflicts resulting from an attorney's serving as a part-time judge of a court of record. The presiding judge should be mindful of the strict time limitations of juvenile proceedings. See, e.g., Ga. Unif. Juvenile Court Rules 6.8, 7.3, and 23.5. However, a continuance by reason of such scheduling conflicts should not be granted in a scheduled Superior Court civil matter involving the safety of a child or the need of a custodial parent for temporary support.
Rule 17.2.Attorneys Serving as Part-time Judges
Rule 17. CONFLICTS–STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS · Last amended 1999 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceRule 17.2 directs superior court judges to promptly work around scheduling conflicts that arise when an attorney also serves as a part-time judge, while drawing a firm line against granting a continuance in a civil case that involves a child’s safety or a custodial parent’s need for temporary support.
Full Text of Rule 17.2
Plain-English Summary
Some Georgia lawyers wear two hats — practicing attorney during the week and part-time judge in another court. Rule 17.2 tells superior court judges to move quickly when that dual role creates a scheduling clash, rather than leaving the attorney stuck choosing which bench to disappoint.
The rule specifically flags juvenile proceedings as deserving extra care, since those cases run on statutory clocks that do not bend easily. A presiding judge weighing whether to accommodate an attorney’s part-time judicial duties has to keep those tight juvenile deadlines in mind when deciding how to handle the conflict.
But the accommodation has a limit. Rule 17.2 draws a bright line for two categories of civil cases: those touching a child’s safety and those involving a custodial parent’s need for temporary support. A scheduling conflict tied to an attorney’s part-time judgeship is not, by itself, reason enough to continue a case in either category — those matters move forward regardless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of scheduling conflict does Rule 17.2 address?
Conflicts that arise when an attorney appearing in a civil matter also serves as a part-time judge of a court of record.
How is a presiding judge supposed to respond to this kind of conflict?
The rule directs the presiding judge to give prompt consideration to resolving the scheduling conflict.
Why does the rule mention juvenile court proceedings?
Because juvenile proceedings carry strict statutory time limitations, and a judge resolving a part-time-judge scheduling conflict is told to stay mindful of those limits.
Can a scheduling conflict from an attorney’s part-time judgeship justify continuing any civil case?
Not always. Rule 17.2 says a continuance should not be granted in a scheduled superior court civil matter involving the safety of a child or the need of a custodial parent for temporary support.
Does Rule 17.2 apply outside of civil matters?
The rule as written addresses a judge presiding in a civil matter, focused on resolving conflicts tied to an attorney’s part-time judicial service.
Amendment History
Amended effective September 2, 1999.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Uniform Superior Court Rules, published by the
Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: Georgia part-time judge attorney conflictUSCR 17.2attorney also serving as judge scheduling conflictcontinuance child safety custodial support GeorgiaRule 17.2 Georgia Uniform Superior Court Rules